How big should your wine cellar be?

There’s really no right or wrong answer to the question.  Wine cellars are usually built around the functional space available.

For example, if you are considering a wine cellar in a basement then you will most likely have a larger room which means more bottle capacity.  By contrast, if you only have a small wall to work with then a reach-in wine wall would be your best option. Also, the size and functional space should be related to your overall goals for a custom (refrigerated or “passive”) wine cellar project.

Of course, wine cellars come in all different sizes and in turn their designs.  They don’t have to be big rooms but keep in mind the larger the room the bigger the refrigeration unit.  The smaller the room, the less powerful unit you will need to cool the space.  You will also want to consider how many bottles you would like to store in your wine cellar which will inform your desired cellar size.

If you are building a home from scratch then you most likely have the luxury of selecting a dedicated space that would be more suitable for a climate-controlled wine cellar.  This is ideal from both functional and aesthetic standpoints.

If you are building a cellar as a standalone project then a few things to consider would be: making sure there is no direct sunlight hitting the cellar, building with an attic or mechanical space nearby, selecting a dedicated space with an exterior wall, and make sure you have at least 50 feet from the cellar to outside if you are using a split system refrigeration unit.

Are you interested in learning more? Let us help you find the perfect solution to your custom wine cellar opportunity today!